News

Babette Kulka: Queen (of Kona) For A Very Long Day

A mis-step in the dark snapped an ankle bone, but this tough age-grouper was determined to finish anyway. Robert Spina stuck around to make it worth her while.

For many, Ironman has become a means of self-discovery through dedication, sacrifice and perseverance. It was no different for 60-year-old Babette Kulka of Hallandale, Florida. Having missed the bike cut-off two years ago, this spunky competitor returned to the Kona start line with one goal in mind . . . to become an official finisher at the Silver Anniversary of the Ironman Triathlon World Championship.

"With just two minutes to go, I screeched into the bike/run transition area" she explains. "I knew I could complete the marathon in six hours, so I took full advantage of the massage therapy offered in the tent!"

Kulka was the last athlete to make it on to the marathon course that night , but she was feeling so energized from her massage, she hit the run in full stride. As she passed by her cheering section led by Irondaughter Paula, she found herself gaining momentum and passing other runners. Just the boost of confidence she needed!

Somewhere around mile 19 in the darkness of the energy lab, Babette accidentally ran off of the road, fell down and badly twisted her ankle. After receiving medical attention, her ankle taped and unable to run, Babette continued her march to the finish line. Concerned for her well being, she was joined by Todd Mardon and Steve Davids, two official volunteers who had already helped so many other dreams come true that day.

In Babette’s opinion, here is where the story really begins.

Earlier in the evening, about the time Babette was starting her marathon, Robert Spina, Jr. crossed the finish line with his wife by his side, a smile on his face and his hands held high.

"I was feeling pretty energized after the race and I went back to the finish line about 9:30 p.m." says Spina. "I have always found the perseverance of those athletes finishing later to be so inspiring."

Even as the race officially ended, Robert was not ready to have one of his dream days come to a close, so he headed out to try to find some friends to celebrate with. Having no luck, he decided to drive out to the Queen K to retrieve a hat he had hidden somewhere around mile 13.

"While on my way out I saw a woman walking back towards town accompanied by two race volunteers" explains Spina. "I just assumed she was walking back to wherever she was staying because the race had long been over."

Mission accomplished, hat in hand, Robert headed back into town and was amazed to see this same woman walking down Palani Road. She appeared to be in some distress, so Spina offered to give her a ride home. Babette quickly responded with an adamant "No way, I am making it to the finish line!"

As Spina motored away, he realized that no one would be at the finish line to cheer her on because they had already started to tear it down when he left to find his friends. Being a coach for Team In Training, Bob has a unique understanding about working together as a team. In that moment, he decided that he was going to be a part of Team Babette!

"I went back to my hotel room to grab my finisher’s shirt because I felt like she deserved more than just me" he laughs. "I also grabbed my lei that was placed around my neck when I finished because I figured she deserved flowers."

Arriving back at the finish area with about 20 minutes to spare, Bob waited with great anticipation for the arrival of this woman he had never met.

"It was so quiet….a few workers disassembling the scaffolding, but no music, no Mike Reilly, only me" he says quietly. "I noticed that the clock was still running and thought how cool it would be for her to know her time!"

As Babette, the two volunteers and daughter Paula headed down Alii Drive, Bob just watched with amazement. Noticing the sign that said "Go Babette", Robert made every attempt to help make this moment memorable and special!

As one of the volunteers jogged ahead to be able to get a picture as Babette and her entourage crossed the much anticipated finish line, Bob hollered just as loud as he could "YOU ARE AN IRONMAN! YOU DID IT! YOU FINISHED THE HAWAII IRONMAN AND YOU ARE MY HERO!" With that said, he gave her a hug, draped her with his lei and finisher’s shirt and disappeared into the darkness. When he returned to his hotel room his wife asked him where had had been….he simply said that he had been with Babette.

After a short time in the medical tent, Babette was encouraged to go to the emergency room because it turned out that her ankle was actually broken! She returned to her hotel room at six in the morning, 26 hours after she left for the start of the race.

On Sunday, Paula and Babette spent much of their day trying to locate the mystery man who had taken the time to care about someone he had never met. She wanted to thank him now that she was able to speak.

"Robert showed up at my hotel just as I was leaving for the airport" explains Babette. "It was an emotional reunion, but he will always represent the Ironman spirit to me."

And just when you think it can’t get any better, it does. On December 21st, a package and letter arrived for Babette and she was surprised to see that it was from Robert. She read the heartfelt words and cried.

"You no doubt did not have quite the race you expected to have. I don’t think anyone would dream of finishing on a broken foot. However, you did finish and time is irrelevant. I hope you will allow yourself to feel and believe that you are truly an Ironman just like everyone else who crossed that line before you. You worked the longest of any competitor and endured what would have caused most others to drop out. If the Ironman designation doesn’t belong to you, it wouldn’t for the rest of us either. When you get there again, I would appreciate a copy of your finish line photo to hang with the one I have now. Until then, pretend you are back at the finish line with thousands of spectators, music playing and Mike Reilly saying: BABETTE KULKA, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN! Now, go ahead and open the enclosed package."

What Babette found neatly disguised in a box meant for chocolates was Bob’s finisher’s medal. Engraved on the back, just above where his name and finish time were etched, it read "Babette Kulka, 18:22:08".

Robert Spina, not only do you radiate the Ironman spirit, you are all about everything that is right in this world. If you don’t believe it, just ask Babette.

You may contact Gaylia Osterlund at Originally posted to ironmanlive.com on 12/30/2003 10:07am by Gaylia Osterlund.